Shorthanded Temple overcomes fouls and holds off Cincinnati, 75-71
The Owls, who were up by 18 points, staved off the Bearcats by making 8 free throws in the last 39 seconds
After Temple started the game on a 7-0 run, Cincinnati spent the rest of the game trying to catch up. But the Owls staved off the host Bearcats, 75-71, Sunday afternoon at Fifth Third Arena.
Cincinnati (17-10, 7-7 American Athletic Conference), which trailed by 18 points just 1 minute, 22 seconds into the second half, steadily stayed in the game and got within single digits, 62-53, with 7:08 left.
The Bearcats got to within 68-62 with 39 seconds left, but the Owls (15-9, 8-5) were able to hold off Cincinnati by making 8 of 10 free throws, including 4-for-4 from Tai Strickland.
“We were in big foul trouble,” said head coach Aaron McKie. “We got very undisciplined in the second half. I thought we really did a good job in the first half of moving and sharing.”
The win solidified Temple’s fifth-place standing in the AAC and the potential of clinching a first-round bye in the conference tournament.
Temple, coming off a 64-57 win over Southern Methodist (18-6, 9-3), were still without guard Jeremiah Williams (shoulder injury), and Quincy Ademokoya, another guard, was unavailable because he’s been suspended indefinitely for a violation of team rules.
Damian Dunn, Temple’s leading scorer who’s dealing with an ankle injury, played after being a game-time decision. Dunn checked in around the 15-minute mark of the first half, and mad a quick impact, swiftly converting a three-point play.
With Dunn limited and Ademokoya out, Strickland got the start, which was his first of the season. Strickland, who had a career-high 27 points against SMU, finished with 11 points but fell into foul trouble early in the second half.
Despite their youth, the Owls still shot over 55.6% in the first half, the best they’ve shot all season. Five players scored in double digits, paced by true freshmen. Forward Zach Hicks had a team-high 16 points, making 4 of 5 three-pointers, and Hysier Miller added a career-high 13, making 3 of his 5 shots from beyond the arc.
Temple will travel to Memphis to take on the Tigers (15-8, 9-4) for the first time this season, at FedExForum on Thursday for a 7 p.m. tip-off.
Second-half woes
Temple had a 47-33 lead at the half.
Temple held Cincinnati to 34.4% shooting from the field in the first half, but in the second half, the Owls ran into foul trouble.
With Strickland and forwards Jahlil White (eventually fouled out) and Arashma Parks limited by fouls, the Owls’ defense wasn’t as effective in the second half.
Bearcats guard Jeremiah Davenport, the team’s second-leading scorer, took advantage by putting up 15 of his game-high 24 points in the second half. A Davenport layup brought Cincinnati to within 62-53.
The Bearcats cut the Owls’ lead to five points when their leading scorer, guard David DeJulius, made a mid-range jumper with under a minute left. However, it wasn’t enough as the Owls took care of business at the foul line to beat back the Cincinnati rally.